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last year in Palestine

Travelling in Israel and Palestine

The picture on the right shows Janet Sturge at the remains of a home last year.

My plans are slowly taking shape for a month in Israel/oPt. My first aim is to meet as many Israeli Servas hosts as may be. Some people will already know of this international hosting organisation, whereby a member can stay for two nights with a host without paying. So far I have four invitations - one in Jerusalem and three in Galilee, plus one to pay a day visit.

It doesn't look at the moment as if I will be able to visit Hebron where there are two hosts - the only Palestinians in the oPt listed -  neither of whom have replied to my e-mails. But, I have had an invitation from a young Palestinian I met by chance at Woodbrooke who is going to arrange hospitality for me in his village near Haifa, and taxi me around [?!] Otherwise, I am looking for inexpensive hostels near the Lake of Galilee, in Jerusalem and possibly in Haifa

I have also fixed up a week at Ramallah Friends School, to be spent mainly in the Art Department where I already know the teacher from my previous visit, and maybe look in on an Ethics class or two. [This is where Quaker Testimonies tend to emerge! - it was started by Jean Zaru as a class for all, Muslim and Christian, alongside the separate religion classes]

I hope to take greetings to the school and Ramallah Meeting from MLM and WKAM, and any gifts people would like to send with me, to both the school for their Bursary fund, and the Friends International Centre Ramallah, where I'll be attending Meeting for Worship. The easiest would be for me to give an envelope with Shekels or American Express Travellers cheques, so cash in a named envelope  or, preferably, ordinary cheques to me please. If not indicated, I'll divide any contributions 50/50 between these two excellent causes. CAF cheques have to go via either QUIET, for the school, or FWCC [EMES] for FICR.

I leave on 17th March, three weeks away, so time is running out - which means in practice lots of overseas phone calls. Back on 13th April....I'll need  a lo-o-ng rest!

  Janet Sturge